1. This city is not made for cars but for people!
It is quite easy to get around by bike or take a long walks. Rio de Janeiro has more then 100km bicycle roads and more is coming!
2. Beautiful historical buildings
One can find beautiful palaces and cute colonial houses in very many neighbourhoods. Not all colonial buildings are renovated but that's the beauty of the history. Average tourist is usually circulating around the triangle copacabana-cristo-sugarloaf and at night in darkness Lapa too. Most of people never see that beauty.
3. Beach, beach, beach!
For sure beach is giving that magic charm to the city. I love ocean and long walks on the sandy beaches. Cariocas love it too and gather on the weekends to the beach to meet friends, to play volley or football. Some weekends gets quite crowded there. Warm water makes beach experience perfect to me!
4. Excellent weather
It is nice weather all year around. Winter time can be a bit chilly in the evenings but most of the time one can go out without worring that weather is changing and you need jackets etc. Most of days is pleasant 28C.
5. Greenery
There is always park or forest nearby where to have picnic or go for jogging.
Tijuca rainforest is the biggest rainforest inside the city.
6. Cariocas (people from Rio de Janeiro)
Brazil is big and people in different parts are different. My experience with cariocas is great, I find them very open, helpful and smiley, easy to make contact with.
7. Sporty people
I like how people using those resources they have - parks and beach roads are full of runners, rollerbladers, bikers, people doing sports!
8. Food per weight
Don't get me wrong, it's not priced based ones weight but based how much do you eat. It's great option to try different things and as portions in Brazil are usually huge for me, this option helps to save money and also time:-) Of course these kind places are all over Brazil but in Rio is according my experience the quality and avaibility the best
9. Acai
Also available in many places in Brazil, here it belongs to every single corner kiosk. Who does not know what is about - try. You can't go to Brazil and not to try that icecream type of thing made from vitamine and mineralrich acai berries.
10. It's lovely way of interaction what is catching my eyes - kisses, hugs, holding hands etc.
Warmth between people and the way they act with loved ones.
11. Active people in age 70 and up.
It is really lovely to see, that relatively old people still come to the beach, dancing and singing in parties together with youngers. Looks that it is fun place to retire.
12. Roda de sambas.
Yeah samba is part of the life here and it is nice part!
13. Sundays
Sundays are special. The road close to the beach is closed for traffic and amount of runners and bicycles is tripled. It's time to go to the market to buy veggies and fruits for next week and then go to meet friends on the beach. Day will be finished with caipirinha and/or dancing forro
